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S.B. 166 Enrolled

                 

GRANDPARENTS VISITATION RIGHTS

                 
2000 GENERAL SESSION

                 
STATE OF UTAH

                 
Sponsor: Terry R. Spencer

                  AN ACT RELATING TO GRANDPARENTS; CLARIFYING GRANDPARENTS' STANDING
                  TO BRING AN ACTION IN DISTRICT COURT; MODIFYING THE DEFINITION OF
                  GRANDPARENT; CHANGING THE STANDARDS FOR REBUTTING PRESUMPTION
                  REGARDING A PARENT'S DECISION; MAKING CERTAIN PROVISIONS FOR
                  STEPPARENT ADOPTIONS; AND PROVIDING THAT UNDER CERTAIN
                  CIRCUMSTANCES GRANDPARENTS MAY HAVE A PRESUMPTION FOR CONTINUED
                  COURT-ORDERED VISITATION AFTER A GRANDCHILD HAS BEEN ADOPTED OR
                  PARENTAL RIGHTS HAVE BEEN TERMINATED.
                  This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
                  AMENDS:
                      30-5-1, as last amended by Chapter 175, Laws of Utah 1992
                      30-5-2, as last amended by Chapter 104, Laws of Utah 1998
                  Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
                      Section 1. Section 30-5-1 is amended to read:
                       30-5-1. Definitions.
                      As used in this act:
                      (1) "District court" means the district court within whose jurisdiction the grandchildren
                  reside.
                      (2) "Grandchildren" means the child or children that a grandparent is seeking visitation
                  rights with under this chapter.
                      (3) "Grandparent" means a person whose child, either by blood, marriage, or adoption, is
                  the parent of the grandchildren.
                      Section 2. Section 30-5-2 is amended to read:
                       30-5-2. Visitation rights of grandparents.
                      (1) Grandparents have standing to bring an action in district court requesting visitation in


                  accordance with the provisions and requirements of this section.
                      [(1)] (2) The district court may grant grandparents reasonable rights of visitation, if it is in
                  the best interest of the grandchildren, in cases where a grandparent's child has died or has become a
                  noncustodial parent through divorce or legal separation.
                      [(2)] (3) In cases other than those described in Subsection [(1)] (2), a grandparent may
                  petition the court for reasonable rights of visitation with a grandchild. The court may enter an order
                  granting the petitioner reasonable visitation rights in accordance with the provisions and requirements
                  of this Subsection [(2)] (3). There is a presumption that a parent's decision with regard to
                  grandparent visitation is reasonable. The court may override the parent's decision and grant
                  reasonable visitation rights to a grandparent if it finds that:
                      (a) it is in the best interest of the grandchild;
                      (b) the petitioner is a fit and proper person to have rights of visitation with the grandchild;
                      (c) the petitioner has repeatedly attempted to visit the grandchild and has not been allowed
                  to visit the grandchild as a direct result of the actions of the parent or parents;
                      (d) there is no other way for the petitioner to visit the grandchild without court intervention;
                  and
                      (e) the petitioner has[, by clear and convincing evidence,] rebutted the presumption that the
                  parent's decision to refuse or limit visitation with the grandchild was reasonable.
                      [(3) Adoption] (4) (a) There is a presumption that adoption of a child, voluntary or
                  involuntary termination of parental rights, or relinquishment to a licensed child placing agency
                  terminates all rights of a [biological] grandparent to petition for visitation under this section. That
                  presumption may be rebutted if the court finds that a child has established a relationship with the
                  grandparent, and that the child's continued contact with the grandparent will be in the best interest
                  of the child.
                      (b) Nothing in this Subsection (4) affects visitation rights of a grandparent that have been
                  ordered by a court pursuant to this section, if the grandchild is adopted by the grandchild's stepparent.
                      [(4)] (5) Grandparents may petition the court as provided in Section 78-32-12.2 to remedy
                  a parent's wrongful noncompliance with a visitation order.

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